Automatic lighting and control



Sept. 27, 1949. F. A. GAUGER 2,433,191

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR GAS BURNERS Filed June 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l vLL.

I s-:27? (0 i F S gr INVENTOR.

FRANK A. GAUGELR BY ATTORNEY Sept; 27, 1949. F. A. GAUGER 2,433,191

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR GAS BURNERS Filed June 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOZOSZOOE I Illllll \HVENTOR FRANK Aauem Q12: Ar 04 ATTORNEY p 7, 1949. F. A. GAUGER 2,483,191

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR GAS BURNERS Filed June 24, 1946 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 VII/A IIIA nmnu 4''] I EA" 1 Y 5 3 b9 /4 FIG. 6 35 8 4b 8\ 3n AP 9 I I \3 '7 f 5:

INVENTOR.

FRANK A. (JAUGER FIC3. 7 BY an m Kan? ATTORNEY Patented Sept 27, 1949 AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR GAS BURNEBS Frank A. Gaugen Milwaukee, Wis. Application June 24. 1946, Serial No. 678,989

3 Claims. (Cl. 158+117.1)

This invention relates to automatic lighting and control means for gas burners, particularly for oven burners.

This invention is an improvement over that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 614,970, filed September 7, 1945 and now matured into Patent No. 2,478,386 for Automatic lighting and control means for gas burners. In my copending application I disclosed means for lighting an oven burner located below and laterally of a constantly burning pilot burner, as in the type of gas stove known as the table top type.

In my copending application I disclosed electromagnetic valves controlled by thermocouple means associated with the main gas cock and oven regulator and with clock control of the electromagnetic valves. In the device which was disclosed in my copending application all of the control was from a main gas cook. In this copending application the disclosure included a dwell for the main gas cock so that it had 'to be turned first to a predetermined position and after a period of time turned to a second and final position.

This invention is designed to eliminate the necessity of waiting or allowing for a dwell in the operation of the main gas cock.

. Objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide a valve assembly associated with thermocouple means so that control of all of these means is obtained from the main gas cock without requiring any dwell of the main gas cock but allowing the operator to set the main gas cock at the desired temperature immediately on the initial opening of the main gas cock and to provide novel time delay means which is thoroughly reliable and independent of any mechanical device which might get out of order.

Further objects are to provide a flash tube pilot burner and a second pilot burner and to provide for the transfer of the flame from the flash tube pilot burner to the second pilot burner and to thereafter cut oil the gas supply to-the flash tube pilot burner.

A further specific object is to provide a maintaining pilot burner adjacent the oven burner which is arranged to continue to burn after the main gas cock is closed until the thermocouple means becomes ineifective to hold the electro- 'magnetic valve means in initial position, to

thereby guard against failure of lighting the oven burner if the main gas cock was closed and im-' mediately opened before the thermocouple means had cooled sufficiently to release the electromagnetic valve means.

. r 2 Further objects are to trol for oven burners or other gas burners which is so organized that it may be used with clock control means to control the turning on of the gas to the main burner and the cutting off of the gas to the main burner, or in which clock control means may be employed only to cut oil the gas to the main burner, or in which manual means alone may be relied upon without the use of clock control means, however, in all instances maintaining the safety features of insuring a time delay before the gas has been turned on to the main gas burner and to insure the lighting of a suitable pilot burner before any gas can reach the main gas burner and to provide against inadvertent turning on of the gas to the main gas burner at a time when no pilot burner is burning. An embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section showing the main valve assembly.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 83 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6, and '7 are sectional views on the lines 5-5, 6-6, and 1-1, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a developed view of the valve of the main gas cook.

Figur 9 is an expanded view of a shank portion of the handle and parts associated therewith.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the handle and associated parts.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line ill| of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, it will be seen that an oven has been indicated by the reference character I, the oven chamber by the reference character 2 and the burner chamber by the reference character 3. The burner is indicated by the reference character 4 and is located within the burner chamber 3. It is supplied with gas by means of a pipe 5 which,

through the agency of valves hereinafter described, is arranged to connect the pipe 5 with the main gas supply or manifold 6. The main valve in the system consists of a combined main gas cook and oven regulator 1 controlled jointly by means of the thermostatic bulb 8 located in the oven chamber and the handle or manipulating member 9. The automatic thermostatic control means controls the valve l2, see Figurefl i provide a system of conearn which valve is connected in series with the main manually operable gas cook or valve indicated generally by the reference character I which latter is equipped with the manually operable rotary valve IS. The combined oven regulator and main gas cock is well known and a detailed description thereof will not be given. For instance, it could be of the general type disclosed in the patent to Weber et al., Serial No. 2,303,011 of November 24, 1942 for a Valve.

A normally closed valve ind cated generally by he reference character I4 and a normally open valve indicated generally by the reference charconducting tube may be of any suitable type. such for example as that shown in my copending application, Serial No. 521,201, filed February 5, 1944, for Automatic lighting and control means for gas burners.

It is to be understood that the thermocouple 38 is constantly heated by the constantly burning acter l5 are in series with the main gas cook and oven regulator valve I, and these three valves jointly control the flow of gas to the burner 5.

The valve I4 is provided with a disk i6 which is urged towards closed position by means of the spring II. The valve i5 is provided with a disk It which is urged towards open position by means of a spring [8. For the sake of clearness in Figure 1 the spring 9 has been located exteriorly of the main casing, but from Figure 3 it will be seen that in reality the spring I9 is located interiorly of the casing. The valve I8 is connected to the armature 28 of an electromagnet 2| and the valve |8 is connected to the armature 22 of a double electromagnet 23. The electromagnet 2| is provided with windings 24 and the electromagnet 23 is provided with a pair of windings 25 and 28. The windings 24 are connected in circuit with a thermocouple 21 and, if desired, with a clock indicated generally by the reference character 28 and provided with a switch 28 which is normally closed. The windings 25 are connected in circuit with a thermocouple 38 and with a clock indicated generally by the reference character 3| provided with a switch 32 which is normally open. The windings 28 are connected in circuit with a thermocouple 33 and with a switch 34, which switch is opened when the main gas cook and regulator valve are in off position and is closed when the main gas cock and regulator valve are in open position. The clock 28 constitutes the oif" clock and the clock 3| the on clock. If desired, a manually operable switch 35 may be placed in parallel with the switch 32 of the clock 8| and a switch 38 may be placed in parallel with the switch 29 of the clock 28. If manual operation alone is desired, without clock control, both switches 35 and 38 are left closed. Obviously if it is desired to have no clock control at any time both clocks 28 and 3! and both switches 35 and 38 may be dispensed with and the electrical circuits permanently closed at these points.

As shown further, referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that a constantly burning pilot burner 31 is provided and is preferably of the hooded, ventilating type used to light the top burners, not shown. This constantly burning pilot burner is located at a point above and usually laterally of the oven l as, for example, in the table top type of stove. A flame conducting tube-like member 38, of any suitable type, is employed and has its upper end adjacent the constantly burning pilot burner 31 and its lower end adjacent a charging burner means 39. flame conducting or flash-back tube and hasa lateral extension 40 which extends to a point adiacent a flash-back tube pilot burner 4| which is provided with a burner tip 42 and with a laterally positioned flame outlet 43. A pilot burner 44 is located in lighting relation to the flash tube pilot burner 4| and in lighting relation to the oven burner 4. As stated, the flash-back tube or flame This tube 38 constitutes a (5 split collar 85 has a pair of rearwardly extending remote pilot burner 31 and that the thermocouples 21 and 38 are arranged to be heated by the oven pilot burner 44.

It is to be understood in reference to Figure 1 that such figure is a diagrammatic view and that many of the various passages to and from the several valves are indicated as pipes, whereas in reality they are for the most part passages or ducts formed in the unitary valve assembly, the

main gas cock 1 and the valves l4 and I5 being formed as a unitary valve assembly as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. It will be seen from reference to Figure 1 that communication between the gas supply manifold or pipe 8 and the intermediate compartment 45 of the valve assembly is controlled by means of the valve is and that communication between the intermediate chamber 45 and the chamber 48 is controlled by means of the valve I8. The chamber 48 communicates by means of the passageway 41 with the main gas cook or valve I, which in turn communicates by means of the pipe 5 with the oven burner 4 under certain conditions hereinafter set forth in detail. The valve assembly is shown in considerable detail in Figures 2 and 3 and diagrammatically in Figure 1. From these figures, particularly Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that a pair of small auxiliary valves 48 and 49 are provided and control passageways 50 and 5|. The passageways 58 and 5| under a certain setting of the main gas cock communicate, respectively, with the pipes 52 and 53 which lead to the oven burner 44 and the flashback burner 4|.

It is to be noted that a small passageway 54 extends from the intermediate chamber 45 to the passageway 58. This allows a regulated amount of gas to pass to the oven pilot burner 44, the

regulation being determined by the setting of the suflicient to heat the thermocouple 21, or as a matter of fact the thermocouple 38. The purpose of this minimum by-pass will appear as the description proceeds. It is to be noted also that the flow of gas through the passageway 5| is determined by the setting of the needle valve 58', see Figure 7.

The conical valve l3 of the main gas cock I is rotated by means of the manually adjustable handle or member 8. This handle is carried by means of a shaft 58 spring-pressed outwardly as indicated at 58 and formed rigid with a sleeve 88, see Figures 2 and 9. The sleeve is provided with an enlargement or collar-like portion 8| rigid therewith and equipped with a notch 82 and a small keyway 83 in its inner side as shown in Figure 9. The keyway 83 slidably receives a projection 84 on the split collar 85. The split collar 85 is also provided with a projection 88 which is adapted to fit within the notch 82. The

flngers 81- which are slldably received within the slots or keywavs 88 in a collar 68. The member 88 has a spring fit within the member 88 and its enlargement. The stop 88 is adapted to engage a stationary stop 18, see Figure 11, to limit the rotation of the manually operable valve 13. The

It is apparent, therefore, that as the handle 8 is turned the rotary valve I3 is also turned. The rotation of the rotary valve I8 determinesthe setting of the oven regulator section 12 of the valve assembly in accordance with the usual'practice.

It is to be noted from Figure that the inward sliding motion of the hollow shaft 88 or sleeve is yieldingly resisted by a spring 18 which serves to assist in returning the hollow shaft 88 to its original position.

The hollow shaft 88 is provided with a flange I4, see Figure 2, which coacts with a cam portion 15 to rock a lever 16 inwardly when the/ knob or handle portion 8 is pushed inwardly. The lever 15 is provided with a roller 11 at its outer end which depresses the member 18.

The member 18, see Figure 3, is provided with a spring I8 which holds the collar 88 of the rod 8| against the inner end of the member I8. The spring 18 is heavier or stronger than the spring I8. The rod 8| carries the valve l8 and is extended as shown in Figures 1 and 3 so as to depress or open the valve l6 when the rod 8| is pressed inwardly.

The small auxiliary valves '48 and 48 are carried by a spider-like member 82 which is provided with a sleeve 83 arranged to be depressed by the valve l8. The member 82 is urged towards valve closed position by the spring 82'. The rod 8| is slidable with reference to the valve l8 and is provided with an inner stop 84 against which the valve I8 is held by means of the spring 85.

The development of the manually operable rotary valve l3 of the main gas cock I is shown in Figure 8 and it will be seenthat it has a main relatively large groove 88 which is arranged to communicate with the main passage 41, see F18- ure 2, and to} allow gas to pass to the oven regu- 6 wardly as viewed in Figure 3 and moves the valve I8 to closed position and the armature 22 into engagement with the electromagnet 28. Also moving of the knob 8 closes the switch 84 and allows energization of the coil 28 of the electro-- magnet 28, through the agency of the thermocouple 88 which is heated from the constantly burning pilot burner 81. The rod 8| is, therefore. held in its innermost position. It is to be noted that when the valve l8 moves inwardly it engages the hub or collar 88 and moves the valves 48 and 48 to open position. This allows gasto pass through the passageway 8| through the manually controlled valve I to the charging pilot burner 4| which, through the medium of the chareing tip 88, charges the flash tube 88 with a combustible mixture. Flame is now propagated .through the tube 88 and its branch 48 and lights the tip 38 and the tip 42 as well as the combusti-- ble mixture passing from the lateral opening 48. Simultaneously, gas passes through the passageway 58 through the manual valve I to the oven pilot burner 44 which is in lighting relation to the opening 43 of the charging pilot burner 4|. The oven pilot burner is, therefore, lighted.

It is to be noted also that inward motion of the rod 8| opens the valve l6 and allows gas to pass from the manifold or supply pipe 8 past the valve It to the intermediate chamber 45 and from lator valve l2 and, from there to the burner 4] when the automatically controlled electromagnetic valves are in their proper position as will hereinafter lie-described. The rotary valve I3 is hollow and a plurality of apertures 81 open from the main slot 88 into the hollow interior-of the valve |3. The valve I3 is also provided with elongated slots 88 and 89. The slot 88 is arranged to establish communication between the passageway 58 and the pipe 52 which leads to the oven pilot burner 44. The slot 88 is adapted to establish communication between the passageway 5| and the pipe 53 leading to the flash tube pilot burner 4|. The segment x in Figure 5 closes the passage 58 in the position shown. The segment Y in Figure 6 closes the passage 41 in the position shown. The segment Z in Figure 7 closes the passage 5| in the position shown.

The switch 34, heretofore mentioned, is controlled from a cam disk 84' carried by the shaft valve 1 to the oven pilot burner 44.

this chamber through the passages, immediately hereinabove described, to the charging pilot burner 4| and to the oven pilot burner 44. However,

it is to be noted from reference to Figure 1 that coil 26 and consequently allows release of the armature 22, thus allowing the biased valve to move to open position. It is to be noted that the valve It does not close as its armature 28 is held by the electromagnet 2| as the coils 24 thereof have been energized due to the heating of the thermocouple 21. In this connection it is to be noted that the initial inward motion of the rod 8| forces the armature 28 of the valve it into engagement with the electromagnet 2|.

Fuel is now supplied the burner and the burner lights from the oven pilot burner 44. It is to be noted that when the valve l8 has moved to open position that the small valves 48 and 48 are closed. The valve 48 cuts off a supply of gas to the flash tube charging pilot burner 4|. The valve 48 cuts off the excess or line pressure supply of gas to the oven pilot burner 44. However, a regulated amount of gas passes through the passage 54 to the oven pilot burner 44 and maintains the proper size of pilot flame for heating the two thermocouples and for igniting the oven burner.

It is to be noted also that there is minimum flame adjustment provided by the needle valve 55 which controls the flow of gas through the passageway 55 as a by-pass supply around the The purpose of this minimum supply is apparent when it is considered that sometimes the operator will cut off the manual valve 1, thus cutting off supply of gas to the oven burner and direct supply of gas to the oven pilot burner 44. However, there is a minimum supply .of gas through the passageway 55 to the oven pilot burner 44 and this main assa oi I tains a small ilame at theoven pilot burner 4| so that ii the operator should immediately reopen the manually controlled valve I, the oven burner will be lighted and the safety oi the ap paratus will be maintained. The reason for this is that the thermocouple ll does not instantly cool and, thereiore, the valve II will be held open for an appreciable length of time until the thermocouple 21 has cooled suiliciently. The minimum flame or minimum gas supply through the passage I is so regulated that it is not sufllcient to maintain the heat necessary for the thermocouple 21 so that ii the minimum supply alone were provided the thermocouple would cool and the valve It would drop to closed position.

It is apparent from the description thus far given that manual control alone can be used without the use of clock controlledswitches. As described hereinabove, the switches 3i and it would remain closed at all times. However, if it is desired to use clock control the 011" clock would be set so as to close its switch 32 at the selected time and allow the thermocouple II to oppose the action of the thermocouple 33 in energization oi the electromagnet 23 and thus determine the time at which the valve it wouldopen and allow gas to be supplied the oven burner 4.

' The clock Ii, therefore, determines the time at which the oven burner will be turned on. Its switch I! is a normally open switch. The clock a has a switch 2. which is normally closed. This clock is the fOiI clock and determines the time at which the oven burner will be cut oil.

It is apparent that when the switch It is open that energization of the electromagnet 2i ceases and the valve l6 closes, thus cutting oi! all supply of gas to all portions of the apparatus. It'is apparent that when the clocks are used, the switches II and It will remain open at all times. when it is desired to have manual operation solely, the switches 35 and it are at all times kept in a closed position.

It is clear also that if desired the On" clock could be dispensed with and the Oil clock would be relied upon to cut oil the oven burner. Under these conditions. the oven burner would immediately come into action after the thermocouple had heated up following manual opening of the main gas cock I. It is also clear that if neither clock were desired, the circuit would remain permanently closed at these points andno clocks would be placed in the apparatus. It is to be noted particularly that time delay is provided to insure lighting of the oven pilot burner 44 without'any reliance being placed on the operation of a delicate mechanical instrumentality. Instead this time delay or this insuring of the lighting of the oven pilot burner 44 is obtained by the bucking action'due to the operation of the thermocouple 30 which is heated by the oven pilot burner 44.

This invention, therefore, is an improvement over that disclosed in my above noted copending application.

In the above noted copending application it was necessary to have a dwell between the initial inward pushing of the gas cock control knob or handle and the final setting of such knob or handle at the desired temperature. In the present invention there is no dwell required. Instead the operator merely turns the control knob or handle to the desired temperature setting and immediately pushes it in, thussetting the parts into their correct positions as hereinabove described.

- Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

l. The combination of a main burner, a remote constantly burning pilot burner, a second pilot burner for said main burner, flame conducting means ,between said constantly burning pilot burner and said second pilot burner, charging means for charging said flame conducting means with a combustible mixture, electromagnetic valve means ior controlling the flow of fuel to said charging means and said main burner and including an electromagnet having a' first winding and a bucking winding and arranged to hold said electromagnetic valve means in a first position to interrupt fuel flow to said main burner and allow tuel flow to said charging means when said electromagnetic valve means has been moved to said first position and said first winding is energized, means for energizing said first winding, a thermocouple arranged to be heated from said second pilot burner and to energize said bucking winding to release said electromagnetic valve means for motion to a second position to allow fuel flow to said main burner and cut oil! fuel flow to said charging means, means for moving said electromagnetic valve means to said second position when said bucking winding is energized. a main gas cockin series with said electromagnetic valve means and controlling the flow of fuel toboth said main burner and said charging means, and a switch for opening the circuit of said first winding when said main gas cock is closed.

2.'The combination of a burner, a first pilot burner therefor, a constantly burning remote pilot burner, flame conducting means for lighting said first pilot burner from said constantly burning pilot burner, charging means for charging saidilame conducting means with a combustible mixture, a main gas cook controlling the flow of fuel to said burner and charging means and first pilot burner, an electromagnetic valve biased towards open position in series with said main gas cook and said burner, thermocouple means heated by said constantly burning pilot burner for energizing said electromagnetic valve to hold such valve closed. a second thermocouple means arranged to be heated by said first pilot burner to neutralize the eflect of said first thermocouple means to allow said electromagnetic valve to move to open position when said first pilot burner has heated said second thermocouple means, an auxiliary valve controlled from said electromagso netic valve for cutting ofl fuel supply to said second pilot burner, a first and a second electromagnetic valve biased respectively towards open and closed positions and controlling the flow of fuel to said main burner, a main gas cock connested in series with said first and second electroll magnetic valve, means controlled from said main 10 controlled switches in circuit with said first and third thermocouples.

FRANK A. GAUGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,340,234 Thornberry et a]. Jan. 25, 1944 2,351,277 Mantz June 13, 1944 2,443,892 Caparone June 22, 1948 

